Counter mechanism



Oct. 11, 1949. H. J. MUMMA COUNTER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1945 Z 6 a 7 i 5 a 4 2 llim w Q I= s 9 w 7 W a a v Q My i l SE g4 I v, m -s i Eva Oct. 11, 1949.

H. J. MUMMA 2,484,113 COUNTER MECHANISM Filed July 2', 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Mama J Mum/W Patented Oct. l1, 1949 COUNTER MECHANISM Harold J; Mumma, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application July 2, 1945, Serial No. 602,745

Food .Machinery and 11 Claims.

This invention relatesto counter mechanisms and is concerned more particularlywith the pro-' vision of a conversion or computer mechanism in such counters which-will change a non-decimal count to a decimal count.

In packing many food products, particularly fresh fruits and vegetables, it is common practice to pack non-decimal amounts in a box. For example, in packing avocados it is customary to pack eight of the fruit to a box. Also with other fruits, such as, oranges, apples and grapefruit, the number packed to the box depends upon the size of the fruit.

In counting the number of fruit packed, it is desirable to count the numberof boxes and any fraction of a. box in approximate tenths to facilitate entry in registering mechanisms and calculations as to price. g

The instant invention is designed to count a non-decimal figure as a box unit and to count tenths of such units for entry in a conventional counting mechanism. j j

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved conversion mechanism which will change a non-decimal for entry into a counter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the above character which can be readily adapted for adifierent number'of pieces in a box or unit to be counted. I

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism ,of the above character which is simple in constructionand reliable in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism of the above character employing an escapement mechanism for converting the non-decimal' figure to a decimal -fig- Other objects and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a conversion mechanism embodying the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view with certain parts shown in elevation taken as indicated by the line 2-2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a" fragmentary sectional view through the conversion mechanism taken as indicated by the line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view 01 the driven part of the conversion mechanism, partially in section, taken as indicated by the line 4-4in Figure 2.

count to a decimal count Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view of the driving part of the conversion mechanism taken as indicated by the line 5-5 in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a composite diagrammatic view of the escapement drive illustrating the relation of the parts during the count of four successive pieces of fruit.

In general, the conversion mechanism includes a step-by-step actuator which receives one step of movement for each piece of fruit counted and serves to actuate the driving part of the conversion mechanism in step-by-step fashion. The driving part of the conversion mechanism is connected to the driven part by a spring drive and escapement mechanism which, in turn, closes contacts to send electrical impulses to a conventional form of an electrically actuated counter mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the conversion mechanism includes a base l0 (Figures 1 and 2) upon which an upright standard or bracket II is suitably secured and which, in turn, supports a U-shaped frame I2 which carries the conversion mechanism proper. The standard I l carries an electrically operated impulse motor l3 having an armature l5 which oscillates between the opposite arms of a rubber pad l4 and has a pivoted connection by means of a pin l6 with the forked lower end of an arm I! of an actuating collar i 8 pivotally mounted on shaft IS. The shaft I9 is fixedly secured on the frame l2. The collar l8 has a second arm 2| on which is pivoted a spring urged actuating pawl 22 operatively engaged with a ten-tooth ratchet wheel 23. A centering and holding pawl 24 is pivotally mounted on a stud '25 which is also carried by the frame I 2.

The ratchet wheel 23 forms part of a drive assembly including a collar 26 and a gear 21 which are secured to the ratchet wheel 23 and are journaled therewith on theshaft [Hand held in place thereon by suitable retaining means. The gear 21 meshes with a smaller gear 28 which is journaled about a shaft 29 secured in a depending flange 3| of a bracket 32 suitably secured to the frame l2. Secured to the gear 28 (Figures 2 and 3) is a disk 36 which together with the gear 28 forms the driving part of the conversion mechanism, the disk 36 having a hub 31 which abuts a similar hub 38 of a about the shaft 29.

A drive connection is established between the driving element, including gear 28 and cam disk 36, and the driven element which includes the gear 39. This drive connection comprises a spirallywound torsion spring 4|, (Figures 2-5) which is gear 39 also journaled fastened to the disk 36 at 42 and at its opposite end is connected at 43 to an arcuate escapement pawl 44 pivoted at 45 in off center position on the gear 39. The pawl 44 has a tooth 46 associated with the escapement teeth 41 cut in a plate 48 which is secured by suitable screws and spacers to a wall 49 of the bracket 32. The pawl 44 is also provided with a laterally extending trip arm 50 which is disposed within a cutaway portion of the cam disk 36 to provide a lost-motion connection therewith and for operation by cam rise at one end of the cutaway portion.

The driven elements of the escapement mechanism operate a, contact mechanism to provide electrical impulses for transmission to a counter, as described above. For this purpose the gear 39 (Figures 3 and 4) meshes with a pinion 52 secured on a shaft 53 suitably journaled on wall 3| of the bracket 32. Shaft 53 also carries a gear 54 meshing with a pinion 56 on a shaft 51 which is journaled in adjacent walls of the bracket 32 and carries a fly-wheel element 58. The shaft 53 also carries a double-ended contact closing cam 6| cooperatively related to normally spacedapart spring contact members 62. As seen in Figure 4, the spring contact members 62 have suitable leads 63 which extend therefrom to a conventional electrically actuated counter mechanism to enter impulses in the tenths order of such counter mechanism.

The operation of the device to count eight avocados to the box is as follows, each item or piece of fruit being counted, through a suitable contact mechanism, sends an electrical impulse to the motor |3 which, through the operation of its armature, causes the arm IE to be moved clockwise and back to advance the ratchet wheel 23 one step. A one-step movement of the ratchet wheel 23 provides a partial rotation of the gear 28 by virtue of the gear ratio between the gears 21 and 28 so that the driving part of the conversion mechanism is advanced five thirty-seconds of a turn. The movement of the gear 28 and the associated disk 36 is transmitted through the torsion spring 4| and the escapement pawl 44 to the gear 39. The spring 4| sequent driving movement of the gear 33. Subsequently cam rise 5| of the disk 33 engages and lifts the arm 50 of the pawl 44 to disengage the tooth 43 of the pawl 44 from the tooth 41 with which it is engaged, allowing the gear 33 to advance one-eighth turn under the influence of the spring 4| until the tooth 46 engages the next adjacent escapement tooth 4'1 considered clockwise as viewed in Figure 4. The spring 4| is so formed, as shown in Fig. 4, as to yieldably return the pawl 44 to a position where the tooth 43 thereof wil1 engage the next tooth 41 which lies in its path. During the one step movement of the pawl 44 and gear 39 the cam 6| is advanced one-half turn to effect one closing of the contacts 62 and to thereby cause entry of a one-tenth count in the associated counter. This condition of the parts is illustrated by the position shown in row A in Figure 6.

During this movement, the gear 28 and the disk 36 forming the driving element of the escapement mechanism, have moved farther than the movement permitted to the driven gear 39 by the spacing between the adjacent escapement teeth 41 so that the spring 4| retains part of the tension imparted thereto by the step of movement. Also, the arm 50 of the pawl 44 is positioned closer to the cam rise 5| so as to be tripped earlier in the next step of movement of the cam disk 36.

is tightened for sub- The next step of movement received from the motor l3 causes the same cycle of operations, the driven element comprising gear 23 and 3B advancing, tensioning the spring 4 releasing the pawl 44 for another one-step movement and a. corresponding advance of the gear 39 and another half rotation of the contact operating cam 6|. Again the spring 4| accumulates part of the tension and in the condition illustrated in row B of Figure 6 the arm 50 of the pawl 44 is positioned still closer to the cam rise 5|. Upon the third impulse or third item counted, a similar operation occurs and the parts are conditioned, as seen in row 0 of Figure 6 where the arm 50 of the pawl 44 is closely adjacent the associated cam rise 5|.

Upon the fourth count by the motor i3 and the fourth-step movement by the driving members 28 and 36, the arm 50 of the pawl 44 is operated by the cam rise 5| in the first part of the movement of the cam disk 38 to allow a first escapement step and the pawl arm 5|! continues to ride on and be operated by the cam rise 5| at the conclusion of said first escapement step to rovide a second escapement step. The accumulated tension of the spring 4| is suflicient to drive the pawl 44 and the gear 39 for the two-step escapement to the filth tooth 41 from the beginning of the count. In this manner on each fourth item a double count will be made, i. e., a double closing of the contacts 62 is effected and for every four items counted five-tenths or a box is registered in a counter.

It will be appreciated that with the condition illustrated in row A of Fi ure 6 a one-tenth count has been entered in the counter, the condition in row B of Figure 6 results in a two-tenths count, the condition in row C of Figure 6 results in a three-tenths count. while in row D a five-tenths count has been entered. At the end of four actuations, the driving and driven parts of the conversion mechanism have moved through the same angular distance, and are conditioned for asucceeding similar series of counts. Thus eight 25 counts are received by the conversion mechanism, and this mechanism transmits ten tenths counts to the counter which registers one in its units column to show that one box or fruit has been counted.

By appropriately altering the gear ratio of the gears 21 and 28, the tension or strength of the spring 4|, the spacing of escapement teeth 41, and the design of cam 36, the conversion mechanism can be adapted to count other increments 55 of a given order in terms of increments of a different order.

, It is to be understood that where the spacin of the teeth 41 is changed, the gear ratio of gear 39 and pinion 52 must also be altered so that for 60 each step movement of gear 39, pinion 52 and cam 6| will make one-half oia revolution.

While a. preierred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, it is apparent that the invention can also be embodied in other forms.

(50 I claim:

1. In a. counter for converting non-decimal units to a. decimal count, means for supplying decimal increments to the counter, an element operable in response to said non-decimal units, and an escapement mechan'mm for driving said supplying means from said element; said escapement mechanism including an endless series of escapement teeth, an escapement member movable from tooth to tooth of said escapement teeth, 75 and resilient means for driving said member from said element, said .element including means for tripping said escapement member, the extent of movement-of; said element being. slightly greater .than the spacing of said teeth to effect gradualtensioningof said resilient means and to cause-saidtrippingxmeans to advance with respect'to said escapement member and to periodically disengage said member from said teeth and efiect a plural tooth escapement thereof during one step of movement of said element,-.

2. In a counter for converting non-decimal units to a decimal count, means for supplying decimal increments to'th'e counter, an element operable step by step in response to said nondecimal units, and an escapement mechanism for driving said supplying means from said element; said escapement mechanism including a circular array of escapement teeth, an escapement member movable from tooth to tooth of said escapement mechanism teeth, resilient means for driving said member from said element, and tripping means on said element for operating said escapement member.

3. In a counter for converting non-decimal units to a decimal count, means for supplying decimal increments to the counter, an element operable step by step in response to said nondecimal units, and an escapement mechanism for driving said supplying means from said element; said escapement mechanism including a circular array of escapement teeth, an escapement member having a drive connection with said increment supplying means and movable from tooth to tooth of said escapement during driving of said member from said element, resilient means for driving said member from said element, and means on said element for operating said escapement member, the extent of movement of said member by said element being repeatedly incrementally less than the movement of said element so that said element is effective to periodically disengage said member from said teeth to efiect a plural tooth escapement thereof during a single step of movement of said element.

4. In a counter for converting non-decimal units to a decimal count, coaxial driving and driven elements, a spring forming the drive connection between said elements and connected for tensioning upon movement of the driving element, an escapement pawl carried by the driven element and receiving an end of said spring, a circular array of escapement teeth for cooperation with said escapement pawl, and means for imparting a step-by-step movement to the driving element, each step of movement of said driving element being greater than the permitted step of movement of said driven element by adjacent teeth of said circular array.

5. In a counter for converting non-decimal units to a decimal count, coaxial driving and driven elements, a spring forming the drive connection between said elements and connected for tensioning upon movement of the driving element, an escapement pawl carried by the driven element and receiving an end of said spring, a circular array of escapement teeth for cooperation with said escapement pawl, means for imparting a step-by-step movement to the driving element, each step of movement of said driving element being greater than the permitted step of movement of said driven element by adjacent teeth of said circular array, and means for transmitting an increment of count from said driven ,7 element. to'a decimal counting mechanism upon each step-of movement thereof.

6. In1a. counter for converting non-decimal units toadecimal count, coaxial driving and driven elements, a spring forming the drive con nection between said elements and connected for tensioning upon movement of the driving element, an escapement pawl pivotally mounted upon the driven element in a radially displaced position, a circular array of escapement teeth for cooperation with said escapement pawl, said pawl receiving an end of said spring to transmit the drive to said drive element, an arm on said pawl having a lost motion connection with said drivingrelementa cam face on said driving element engageable with said arm to withdraw said pawl from an associated tooth, and means for imparting a step-by-step movement to the driving element, each step of movement of said driving element being greater than the permitted step of movement of said driven element by adjacent teeth of said circular array.

7. In a counter for converting non-decima1 units to a decimal count, coaxial driving and driven elements, a spring forming the drive connection between said elements and connected for tensioning upon movement of the driving element, an escapement pawl carried by the driven element and receiving an end of said spring, means providing a lost motion connection between s-aid pawl and said driving element to provide for overdriving of said driving element with respect to said driven element, a circular array or escapement teeth for cooperation with said escapement pawl, and means for imparting a step-by-step movement to the driving element, each step of movement of said driving element being greater than the permitted step of movement of said driven element by adjacent teeth of said circular array.

8. In a counter for converting non-decima1 units to a decimal count, coaxial driving and driven elements, a spring forming the drive connection between said elements and connected for tensioning upon movement of the driving element, an escapement pawl pivotally mounted upon the driven element in a radially displaced position, a circular array of escapement teeth for cooperation with said escapement pawl, said pawl receiving an end of said spring to transmit the drive to said drive element, means providing a lost-motion connection between said pawl and said driving element to provide for overdriving of said driving element with respect to said driven element and to provide for tripping of said pawl, and means for imparting a step-by-step movement to .the driving element, each step of movement of said driving element being greater than the permitted step of movement of said driven element by adjacent teeth of said circular array.

9. In a mechanism for converting non-decimal units to decimal units, the combination of: a rotary actuator for supplying decimal counting units step-:by-step to a counter; a rotary element operable step-by-step in response to said nondecimal units; resilient means for transmitting rotary motion from said element to said actuator; and escapement means for converting said motion thus transmitted to said actuator from non-decimal units to decimal units.

10. In a mechanism for converting non-decimal units to decimal units, the combination of: a rotary actuator for supplying decima1 counting units step-by-step to a counter; a rotary element operable step-by-step in response to said non decimal units; resilient means in: transmitting rotary motion from .said element to said actueta-or; a series of stops for halting rotation of said actuator at intervals; and means responsive to rotation of said element mo successively release said actuatorfrom said stops.

'11. In a mechanism :for converting ineremenxs of a; primary order into increments of a secondary .order and .transmitti-ng'thel-latter to a counter, the combination of: a rotary driven counter acbuator; a rotary driving element; means :for 11)- iatings-aid element step-by-step with increments of said primary order; resilient means ior transmitting rotary motion from said element to said actuator; means to :halt rotation .of said actuator at intervals dividing said ro'oationiinto increments 8 or said mnaery etler; menus we 'to 'said dfl'v mg element torelease said 1mm from said rotation halting means to initiate step-bystep rotation of slideebimtor in incremm'cs of sail secondary order; and means for submittinl said increments of a secondary order toaeounter.

REFERENCES CITED The iollowing references "are 'of record 1n the file 'of this patent:

STATES PATENTS Name Date Rosenberger Sept. 11, 1934 

